Since its founding more than two centuries ago, Buffalo, N.Y. has been home to innovators and entrepreneurs—and that legacy continues today. 43North—The World’s Largest ($5 million) Business Idea Competition—has teamed up with Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and Paget Films to tell the story of a forward-looking city with a proud past in an inspiring new video.

Titled “Next Things Now” and clocking in at just under five minutes in length, the video highlights dozens of bright moments in Buffalo’s history, ranging from the opening of the Erie Canal to the first successful skin graft to today’s groundbreaking genomic research.

This fast-paced, emotional video is narrated by 25 members of the next generation of Buffalo leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs (see credits below).

Buffalo’s economic growth over the past decade was described as transformational by Mayor Byron W. Brown as he pointed to the city continuing its positive momentum with a strong, workable plan at a recent lecture held at Daemen College.

As featured speaker on Sept. 2 in the college’s latest Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series, Brown talked about major economic development efforts that have improved the city’s vitality and the overall impact the revitalization has had on the region.

“There are visible signs of progress and growth throughout the city, which has experienced $4.4 billion in economic development since 2012, with more than 12,000 new jobs expected to be created over the next few years,” said Brown. “These major investments are changing the city for the better and making it a destination where people want to work, live and play.”

Ambassador Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, consul general of India in New York, presented valuable insight into the country’s impressive emergence as an independent nation and underscored the importance of strong U.S.-India relations in the Daemen College Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series event held on July 25.

As the first international speaker in the lecture series, Mulay discussed India’s rich ancient history to offer an intriguing perspective on its evolution to the country that exists today. India’s success, he explained, comes from a blend of history, cultural values and commitment to economic growth.

“India is a land of great aspirations and prosperity and is a country that strives to serve as an example of peace,” said Mulay. “Since its independence (from Great Britain) in 1947, India has embraced working as a unified nation and is focused on living by its affirmations as a democratic society.”